Article lashing support



Dec. 30, 1969 L. HIDASSY 3,436,725

ARTICLE LASHING SUPPORT Filed May 17. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 so INVENTOR.

LASZLO HIDASSY ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1969 HIDASSY ARTICLE LASHING SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17, 1968 ZZZ/a 1 l .1 H p O 1 7 Al fly/$ I INVENTOR LASZLO HIDASSY BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,486,725 ARTICLE LASHING SUPPORT Laszlo Hidassy, Elizabeth, N..l., assignor to The Thomas & Betts Co., Elizabeth, N.J., a corporation of New Jerse y Filed May 17, 1968, Ser. No. 730,103

Int. Cl. F16] 3/22 US. 'Cl. 248-68 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE ing member extends through an axial passageway in the vertical member to secure a plurality of the supports together. In another form of the device, the vertical extensions of the vertical members are omitted enabling a pair of the supports to be secured together with the wings of one support inverted and facing the wings of an adjacent support to form article receiving cavities therebetween.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention finds particular use in the field of conductor harnessing where it is desired to support and lash a plurality of individual conductors into a conductor bundle and to permit the bundle to be offset from a mounting bulkhead. In a similar fashion, the article lashing support may be used for the supporting, and to provide a base for lashing pipe, hoses, tubing or the like.

Description of the prior art Prior art article lashing supports of the type generally described herein are described and illustrated in US. Patent No. 3,250,505, to W. R. Rodman, Sr. et al. for a Tie Block, issued May 10, 1966. In the above cited Rodman et al. patent, inclined wings are attached to opposite sides of a vertical member through which exists an axial passageway. Articles to be supported by the tie block are positioned on the upward inclined faces and are secured by means of fastening devices passed through passages within the wings of the. tie blocks. No provision is made in the cited Rodman et al. patent to provide a cavity for a plurality of articles, such as conductors, as a bundle is being built up. It would only be possible to use the Rodman et al. device once the bundle had already been formed and its must be held in position such that a lash ing device be fastened thereabout to secure the conductors into a bundle and tosecure it to the tie block. Secondly, because of the manner of construction of the device, it is only possible to arrange the tie blocks in one particular arrangement, that is with the inclined faces of the wings facing upwardly. This arrangement does not permit almost total enclosement of the conductors forming the bundle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the difiiculties noted above with respect to prior art devices illustrated by the Rodman et al. patent. The present invention makes available two types of support members which may be selectively arranged to provide a variety of support and clamping functions. A first type of support member is provided with a vertical member and a vertical extension thereof. An aligned axial passageway passes through both 3,486,725 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 "ice the vertical member and the vertical extension. A first annular rib surrounding said vertical member axial passage is provided with a plurality of radial slots each of which may accept radial teeth positioned on a second annular rib adjacent the free end of the vertical extension. Transverse members are provided, on opposite sides of the vertical members, with ends generally curved to form article receiving cavities therein, which will both support the articles and which will provide passages for the passage of lashing devices through the transverse members and about the articles to be supported. A plurality of first type support members may be placed along a fastening device passed through the axial passageway thereof and the individual support members may be orientated in various aligned, and nonaligned positions, in accordance with the use of the support member, The radial teeth, and radial slots, provide for locking engagement between successive support members along the fastening device regardless of their aligned, or nonaligned, positions.

A second type support member is similar in all details to the first type except for the absence of the vertical extension and replacement thereof by an elargement of the axial passage through the vertical member such that it will permit the acceptance of the vertical extension of a first type support member therein. In this manner, if desired to enclose a plurality of articles the second type of support member may be placed to receive the vertical extension of the first type of means. Also, the second type of support member is engageable by the teeth on the vertical extension of the first type of support member in that it is also provided with radial slots in its lower portion. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved form of article lashing support.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved form of article lashing support fabricated in discrete elements of a first and second type and which may be put together in locking engagement in accordance with the intended use.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved article lashing support wherein elements are provided with complementary radial slots and teeth for locking engagement with corresponding portions of similar elements whereby individual elements may be locked together without regard to their alignment.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved article lashing support which may be built-up from two different types of support members, a first of which is positionable in either of two ways depending on the intended use.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved article lashing support wherein the transverse members for receiving the articles are preformed to form article receiving cavities, which cavities contain a plurality of slots and channels therein for the receipt of fastening devices whereby articles may be fastened within the article receiving cavities.

Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the acompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principles of the invention, and the best modes have been contemplated for carrying them out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first type of support member constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the first type of support member of FIG. I

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second type support member constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the second type of support member shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation in section of the second type of support member shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plurality of first and second types of support members showing the manner in which they are employed.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation showing the employment of a first and second type of support member to form a partial enclosure of the supported articles.

Similar elements are given similar reference characters in each of the respective figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a first type of support member 10 constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. Support member 10 has a vertical member 12 through which an axial passage 14 extends. Mounted at a first end of the vertical member 12 is a vertical extension 16. Vertical extension 16 also has an axial passage 18 therethrough (axial passage 18 being aligned with axial passage 14) which terminates in an annular rib 20 which has a plurality of radial teeth 22 placed thereon. At the opposite end of the support member 10, defining the axial passage 14, is a second annular rib 24 into which are formed a plurality of radial slots 26. Radial slots 26 are so proportioned that they can accept the radial teeth 22 atop the vertical extension '16 of a similar support member 10. Extending transverse to the vertical member 12, on opposite sides thereof, are a plurality of transverse members 28. Transverse members 28 have tips 30 which are curved generally upwardly towards the vertical extension 16 so as to form, between the tips 30 and the vertical member 12, article receiving cavities 32. Positioned at intervals along the interior curved surface of the transverse elements 28 are a plurality of mounting slots 34 with a channel 36 connected therebetween. Lashing devices (not shown) are passed through slots 34 and along the channel 36 and through another aperture 34 and thence about a plurality of articles placed within the conductor receiving cavity 32 to be coupled thereto. The channel 36 permits the fastening device (not shown) to be mounted under the surface of transverse members 28 and thus will not interfere with adjacent mounting devices 10.

As is shown in FIG. 6, two mounting devices 10a and 10b have been placed one atop the other, and coupled together by means of a fastening device 38 which passes through the axial passages 18 and 14 of each of the members 10 and engages a mounting surface such as 40. As shown in FIG. 6, support member 10b has been positioned with the annular ring 24 in contact with the mounting surface 40. The second support member 10a is positioned atop the first support member 10b in such a manner that the teeth 22, on the annular rib 20 of the vertical extension 16, engage the slots 26 in the annular rib 24 at the bottom of the vertical member 12 of support member 10a. Although the support members 10a and 1% are shown with their transverse members 28 in alignment it is obvious that such alignment is not necessary and that either of the support members 10a or 1012 may be rotated with respect to the other and locked into position due to the engagement of the radial slots 26 and the radial teeth 22 of adjacent members 10. Once positioned, adjacent members 10, will be locked in position by means of the fastening device 38. Articles, such as bundles of conductors 42 will be fastened by fastening means such as 44, passed through slots 34 under the channels 36 of the transverse members 28 and thence around the bundles of conductors 42 for fastening. In addition, at the point of coupling between the vertical member :12, the vertical extension 16 and the transverse members 28, an addi-.- tional slot 35, also communicating with the channel 36, permits the placement of additional lashing devices high 4 upon the transverse member 28 as is shown at 46 in FIG. 6.

Turning now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a second type of support member 50 is shown. Support member 50, as is shown in FIG. 3, is in most detail similar to support member 10 of FIG. 1. That is to say there is a vertical member 12 which has extending therefrom, on opposite sides, transverse members 28. Transverse members 28 have upturned tips 30 to form article receiving cavities 32 along which are placed slots 34 for the receipt of lashing devices. Channel 36 extends from the tip 30 under the entire length of the transverse member 28 into and along the vertical member 12'. The bottom surface of the vertical member, as is shown in FIG. 4, has an annular rib 24 With a plurality of radial slots 26 as is shown in FIG. 2 for the support member 10 of FIG. 1. An obvious change in the support member 50 of FIG. 3 is the elimination of a vertical extension 1 6 as is shown in FIG. 1. Instead, there is an enlargement of the axial passage 14 as at 52 in FIG. 5. Axial passage 52 is made sufficiently large and deep to accommodate the vertical extension 16 of a support member 10. Thus in assembling support member 50 to a support member 10, as is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, it is possible to position support member 50 in two distinct manners. As shown in FIG. 6, support member 50 is positioned in the same manner as support members 10, that is to say the radial slots 14 are caused to engage the radial teeth 22 of the support member 10a and thus is locked in position with respect to support 10a by means of the fastener 38 passed through the large axial passage 52 and thence through the axial passage 14. In addition, it is possible to position the support element 50 in an inverted manner so that the inclined tips 30 of the transverse members 28 face the upturned tips 30 of the transverse member 28 of support member 10 as is shown in FIG. 7. A support member 10 will be positioned in the manner shown by the support member 101) of FIG. 6. Articles such as conductor bundles can be positioned within the article receiving cavities 32 of the support member 10. The support member 50 will then be positioned, as is shown in FIG. 7, such that the vertical extension 16, of support member 10, enters the en larged axial passage 52 of the support member 50. Passage of a fastening device through the axial passages will then permit the fastening of support members 10 and 50 together and to a mounting surface.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of the form and details of devices illustrated and in their operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An article lashing support comprising: a vertical member having an axial passage extending therethrough; a first annular rib defining said axial passage at one end of said vertical member; a plurality of radial slots in said first anular rib; transverse members extending laterally from opposite sides of said vertical member; said transverse members terminating in free ends generally inclined towards said vertical member to define article receiving cavities and a plurality of slots in said transverse members to accept lashing means whereby articles placed in said cavities may be lashed to said support by passing lashing means about said articles and through said slots.

2. An article lashing support, as defined in claim 1, further comprising a vertical extension coupled to said vertical member and an axial passage through said vertical extension aligned with said axial passage of said vertical member.

3. An article lashing support, as defined in claim 2, further comprising a second annular rib defining said axial passage through said vertical extension and remote from said first annular rib; and a plurality of radial teeth on said second annular rib arranged for cooperating engagement with said radial slots in said first annular rib whereby a plurality of supports may be arranged along a fastening device passed through said axial passages and locked to one another by means of said radial slots and teeth in a plurality of aligned and nonaligned positions.

4. An article lashing support, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said transverse members has two slots therein and a channel therebetween.

5. An article lashing support, as defined in claim 1, wherein a portion of said axial passage, remote from said first annular rib, is larger than the remaining portion thereof; said passage portion proportioned to accept a portion of the vertical member therein.

6. An article lashing support comprising a plurality of separable interlocking support members; each comprising: a Vertical member having an axial passage extending therethrough; a first annular rib defining said axial passage at one end of said vertical member; a plurality of radial slots in said first annular rib; a vertical extension at the second end of said vertical member; said vertical extension having an axial passage therethrough aligned with said axial passage of said vertical member; a second annular rib defining said axial passage through said vertical extension and remote from said first annular rib; a plurality of radial teeth on said second annular rib for cooperating engagement with said radial slots in said first annular rib; transverse members extending laterally from opposite sides of said vertical member; said transverse members terminating in free ends generally inclined towards said vertical members to define article receiving cavities; and a plurality of slots in said transverse members to accept lashing means therethrough for fastening articles to said support; said radial slots being selectively lockable with the radial teeth of another support "whereby a plurality of supports may be positioned along one fastening means in a plurality of aligned and nonaligned positions.

7. An article lashing support made up of at least one first support means and at least one second support means; each of said first support means comprising: a vertical member having an axial passage extending therethrough; a first annular rib defining said axial passage at one end of said vertical member; a plurality of radial slots in said first annular rib; a vertical extension at the second end of said vertical member; said vertical extension having an axial passage therethrough aligned with said axial passage of said vertical member; a second annular rib defining said axial passage through said vertical extension and remote from said first annular rib; a plurality of radial teeth on said second annular rib for cooperating engagement with said radial slots in said first annular rib; transverse members extending laterally from opposite sides of said vertical member; said transverse members terminating in free ends generally inclined towards said vertical members to define article receiving cavities; a plurality of slots in said transverse members to accept lashing means therethrough for fastening articles to said support; each of said second support means comprising: a vertical member having an axial passage therethrough; said axial passage having a first portion of greater axial dimension than the second remaining portion of said passage; said first portion proportioned to receive said vertical extension therein; a third annular rib defining said second portion of said axial passage; a plurality of radial slots in said third annular rib; said slots in said third annular rib proportioned to receive in locking engagement the radial teeth in said second annular rib or a first support means; transverse members extending laterally from opposite sides of said vertical members of said second support; said transverse members terminating in free ends generally inclined towards said vertical members to define article receiving cavities; and a plurality of slots in said transverse members to accept lashing means therethrough for fastening articles to said support; said first and second support means capable of being arranged along a fastening means with the teeth on said second rib of said first support means engaging the slots in said first rib of said first support means or said vertical extension of said first support means vested in said first portion of said axial passage of said second support means said first and second support means being positionable on said fastening means in a plurality of aligned and nonaligned positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,250,505 5/1966 Rodman 24849 FOREIGN PATENTS 893,448 4/1962 Great Britain. 954,405 4/1964 Great Britain.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R. 174 24s 74 

